#someone get that man a hat with the adhd creature on it because i think hed wear it
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
pete please show patrick the adhd creature I think he'd like it
28 notes · View notes
sp-growingpains · 2 months ago
Note
Hi hi again!! I havent gotten around to answering your ask yet, but in the meantime let me ask about your girl Jean once more 🫶🫶
1. How would you define Jean's style and aesthetic? What kind of clothes does she wear: is it more form or function? What clutters her room?
2. Does she have pets/would want pets in the future? If so, what kind of pet?
3. I'm not sure if you've answered this one before, but what kind of job would Jean have? And do you have a Post Covid design for her?
4. Since I asked about her SOT AU last time, can you tell me about her TFBW/superhero version?
Hi you!! I'm so glad you're back! You genuinely brighten my day! When I get over my crippling fear of being annoying, you will be bombarded with love back!
LET ME COOK CHAT!!
What an Ass-testic!
I've always seen Jean as a person who prides comfort over style.
When she's a kid, she's all about overalls and things with pockets. The front pocket of her overalls has any cool bug she finds and/or a cool lizard! The freakier looking the creature the more likely it's going to stuffed into the pocket, at least until someone makes her put it back.
Middle school turns to gym clothes mostly. Jean is 100% that fucko who's wearing basketball shorts in the cold, the baggy kind that come down to your knees. But this is also where she starts wearing more band shirts! Dio, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Black Sabbath...the whole nine yards!
High school, there's not much of a change. The only difference is that she starts to embrace the fact that she is in fact a woman. It's around this time where she begins the uphill struggles of accepting her body. Jean honestly thinks for a long time that she's a lumbering, giant. (I won't go into this too much because I'm working on a tiny fic that goes into her inner monolog). Long story short, through the help of the other girls, she begins to wear skirts. She starts small, putting shorts under them and if it gets to be too much she carries a pair of jeans with her. But this era of Jean is what I could only lovingly describe as "Tony Hawk Underground 2 grunge."
When she's an adult, she grows a little more and gets comfortable in her own skin. She realizes that her height shouldn't restrict what she wears and rocks the punk/80s rock style.
If we had to pick a defining clothing item, the "poof ball hat" or the "orange parka" for her, it would he her blue jean jacket. The one with her patched all over them. That jacket she keeps as long as she can, each patch she has on there is for someone special to her. (I plan on redrawing that soon!)
Her space!
Oh man, is it embarrassing to say that I've redone her room like three times in the sims? Her room is what most can relate to where it's an ADHD mess. Like, she understands where everything is because it's in its own little special place. If she cleans it or organizes it, it might as well be gone. That's not to say her room is insanely messy... just well lived.
For starters, lots of posters and pictures. The picture with her and Stan gives a good little look. Jean has those lights and printed photos along her walls, hanging from her ceiling. Posters of horror movies and different bands she's seen live! Beside them are her different instruments. Guitars of different sizes and colors, a few bases, maybe a few records.
The only guitar that isn't up on the wall is her purple one. That stays beside her bed or on her back. When she's bored or feels the need to practice, it's within arms reach. I can see her also having a few energy drinks within reach as well.
She chooses sentimental over material value. The only thing she really splurges on is her bed! She's a tall lady and treats herself to many blankets and pillows. On it is her old stuffed rabbit. You know the kinda plushy that's old as hell and has clearly been patched up too many times, so it looks kinda creepy? Yeah, that's just sitting there in her room, sometimes on her beanbag chair.
Pets~!
While Jean would have loved a dog, especially when she was younger, she's not really responsible enough for one. She neglects herself quite often, and even though I just went into detail about her room, she's not home if she can help it. Jean understands that it's not fair for any pet, so she doesn't really get one until she's an adult. Though she does live vicariously through Stan with Sparky. Or Cartman with his cat!
I can see her doing some research and getting a snake when she's an adult! Probably a Western Hognose Snake! She'd fall in love with their goofy little faces. Letting it rest on her shoulders and neck when she finally gets comfortable with being home. That little guy makes it easier to want to be home!
Poss-Cauvid
I do have a design for her! Maybe once I finish the mountain of projects I have, I'll post an actual picture! I don't see Jean changing too much!
Tumblr media
This one is pretty close, though! Jean keeps up with her body, growing to really love it! The only real difference that I would add is that she kinda ditches the braids and starts putting her hair up in a bun. The only time she cut her hair was when she was a kid, and she looked a little too much like Tweek and swore never again. So she keeps her hair long, and the braids just get to be too much. That and she gets a few tattoos! But those are on her back and on her calves, and I'm still debating an arm one for her. (One of them will be a call out to Rhea Ripley because that's who I based Jean's body type off of!)
Professional Dumby
I have talked about it before, but it never hurts to say it again! I kinda said it in passing anyway!
Jean stays in South Park her entire life. That mountain town is her home, it's a part of her. It's something she loves with all her heart.
So, of course, she centers her career around the very thing that made her who she is. Music!
Jean is a high-school music teacher full time! It isn't until the very last minute of high school that she figures this out. Teaching some younger kids how to play guitar because she got roped into volunteer work, and she finds that she's pretty good at it!
The music and arts are very important to her! Especially in such a little town!
Fractured, Broken Even
Oh baby! You know AUs are my favorite thing to ramble about! So yeah, I have a design for her Superhero!AU design. I scrapped it a few times and I've got to work on it again but I based it heavily off of Pizzaz from Gem and the Holograms!
She's not a hero, just like her TSOT!AU, she's an antagonist!
If we're talking about them being kids: She puts on this 80s glam wig, paints her face these vibrant colors of orange and green. Grabs her stupid little guitar and causes problems! Why should Professor Chaos have all the fun? He shouldn't be the only one! Besides, it's unfair that South Park has two superhero teams and theirs only like one antagonist (and Cartman). She's goofy and plays up wanting an arch-nemesis so bad it makes her look stupid!
As for the AU: Jean Wellman only wants one thing in life, the consistency in every universe, and that's to be remembered and loved. What better way to do that than to carve your name into music. So she takes to the stages and gives the people all that she is.
That is until a fight between The Freedom Pals and Professor Chaos crashes into one of her shows. Electricity from the Professor goes haywire, hitting the wanna be Rockstar. Stage lights, wires, amps, the screams of the crowd. It's all she hears before things go dark.
Wires
Amps
Sound
...
Wires
Amps
Sound
...
Music
She hears it. Feels it thumping in her veins. She's not carving her name into music, it's carving itself into her.
And fuck does it feel good. It makes her feel alive. More alive than she's ever felt on stage.
That's when those buzzing fluorescence lights pry her eyelids open. When she comes to, her body feels like energy. Feels like a power cord.
Her hair's changed. A single bolt of blue through her raven locks. It's puffed out just like those 80s glam rockers she grew up loving so much. It won't go down anymore, but why would she want it to?
It's when she checks herself out of the hospital, her legs taking her back to the stage where it happened, that every step feels like she's walking on air. It's when she pulls her guitar out of the wreckage, seeing how it's still in great condition. It's when she slams her nails across the metal strings, and it plays the perfect note; that it all clicks and makes sense.
She cackles, it crackles.
She laughs, it echos.
She's a star baby, and everyone is gonna know it.
Name: Hologram
Class: Blaster/Support
》 Hologram uses a mix of short-range attacks mixed with long-range support moves. She is by no means an ally to anyone, however. Constantly playing both sides. She's a hero when it's convenient and fun, a bad guy when she thinks the tides are a little unfair. Her favorite thing to do is to get the crowd going! Order has no room in her life. It's all about the show!
○ First Move: Catch The Rift- Hologram pulls a cord on her trusty guitar, and in a straight line, enemies are staggered back by the sick rifts. (Causes enemies in a straight line, up to 3 spaces, to get knocked back. Causes confusion.)
○ Second Move: Amp Up- Hologram strums her guitar, and the music heals the soul, rejuvenating her allies. (Small AOE heal in a cross pattern from her location. Cures debuffs)
○ Third Move: Punk Tactics - Hologram brings down the axe crushing legs and hitting below the belt. (A front melee attack that deals massive damage, Causes stun. Can be used every other turn)
☆ Special: Backstage Pass- Hologram steps up to the stage and demands the attention of the crowd. All eyes on her, her song causes the crowd to get lost in the music! (Attacks the entire battlefield. Enemies are charmed and shocked. Allies get an attack up. Does no actual damage.)
How Well She Plays With Others
Fastpass: Is her favorite hero, one of the only heroes in her eyes. Not only is he a true hero, but he's fun! He's so much fun! His speed makes every fight a challenge. Less a game of cat and mouse, and more like two lighting storms going at it. Flashy, hard to predict, charming. What's not to love?
"Fastpass! Can I get an autograph!? Wanna sign the guitar? Come ooooon buddy! Surely you have the time?"
> Will most likely team up with
> More likely to quip with (which she loves)
> Will try to outrun just because it's funny
Captain Diabetes: Her second favorite hero. This is the other true hero to Hologram! She knows that when it comes down to it, he will always do the right thing. Which means he's perfect for the show! Hologram often puts him in a predicament where he's forced to choose. Chase her or save the victims? Knowing him, he always chooses to save civilians. Hologram then makes a scene about it.
"Look at you! You'll do anything for these people! God, you're amazing! You're my favorite superstar!"
> Will never team-up with him, despite really wanting to.
> Loves getting him riled up, even though it's incredibly bad for her
> It's absolutely a game of cat and mouse with him
Toolshed: The fix it hero. He was the one who brought her to the hospital. The reason she can hear the music. The reason why the electricity hit her in the first place. If he hadn't dodged that attack. If he hadn't been there. Well, she wouldn't be the main event. He made her. So she owes it to him to make him a real hero! Hologram knows if she breaks it, he'll always fix it. Make it better! Like he did her!
He's a hero, sure, but he's not a real hero. Not yet. He's got some imperfections, little kinks that she's more than happy to work out! The day she knows she's won is when he acknowledges her as his arch-nemises.
"Look at me! You made me a star! You made me something! It's the least I can do for you, Toolshed! You need me to make you a hero!"
> Will never team-up with him
> Wants more than anything for the city to love him like they love Mysterion
> Acknowledgment or not, she's gonna make him a hero
Human Kite: An alien? From the stars? How fucking rad is that!? At least Hologram thinks so. Her favorite thing to do is to knock him out of the sky. It's a game to her because, in actuality, no one flies higher than her. No one is ever allowed to make her look like a stage hand! She's the main event, and no one from this planet or the next is gonna take that from her! If he remembers that and stays out of her way, they can work together. She'll even let him play alongside her...if he's good.
"You never fucking learn, maybe you need another lesson. Call for backup, I want them to watch me knocking you outta my sky."
> Will team-up with him sometimes, but she'll be pissy about it.
> She does think it's really fucking cool that he can shoot lasers out of his eyes and that he's an alien, it's all jealousy really
> If she successfully knocks him out of the sky, she'll make a show of catching him, smirking the entire time.
Professor Chaos: What a funny guy. What a perfect opener, like those small bands that open for the main event! He's got plans that are beyond her understanding, but they're fun! If they leave room for her and they don't get in the way of her goals, then he's fine! If the city starts to love Mysterion a little more because of him, though, she's gonna have some words for the Professor.
"Look Proff, I owe ya. You're part of the reason I'm like this...but lets not pretend you're the only one playing games. Some of us want a turn too."
> Will team-up with him with no complaints, even follow orders to a degree
> If she thinks it's funny, she'll turn the tables and go rogue
> Is a pain in the ass for both sides, it's only fair!
Callgirl: The last and final true hero on her list. This woman can do no wrong in her eyes! This woman's presence both online and in person leave Hologram star-struck. She's the one person who's allowed to share a stage with her. If only the female hero could see that!
"You're her! You're Callgirl! I'm a huge fan! Can I write your theme song?"
> Will always team-up with her unless Toolshed is involved!
> Constantly tries to get a photo with her. Often photo-bombing if she can help it
> Was a fan of Callgirl before she became Hologram, still follows her social media!
As for the others? She's not really concerned about them. They're small stuff. Boring. Or at least they haven't given her a reason to give a shit. Although, Wonder Tweek's lightning is fun. She loves the feeling of it, tastes like coffee for some reason?
8 notes · View notes
apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers crave you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, acquaintances, or peers, they ever ask me how I’m able to get so much better done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might resonate confusing, but realistically, parties with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least , not when we’re is currently working on something that excites us. In reality, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling acts were supposed to be doing.( Why soak the recipes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard casket and a disassembled vacuum cleaner ?)
Most beings with ADHD have to work 10 epoches harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and era administration abilities skills that other people develop naturally over occasion. While drug can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we offer more self-conscious attention to life hacks, remembrance maneuvers, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial arrangements … because we have to .
GIF via Checkoofilm/ YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own professions, perhaps because were built to tackle imaginative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont necessary to discover the same ploys that we do, they can benefit from them. In information, Id “re saying that” ADHDers have some of best available advisory opinions and rehearses for get stuff done even if we dont ever listen to that admonition ourselves .
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity gratuities from beings with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from TAGEND
1. Habits are concepts you get free of charge. So get into ’em .
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I ever start my period with meds, then a shower, then breathes, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are virtually self-automation, which represents less brainpower spent on the interesting thing.
2. Always have a backup( or two, or three) and know where to find it .
I deter additional cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my luggage at all periods. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about maintaining my phone charged.
3. Remember and alertings: love them and use them .
I even have a repetition 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I involve the reminder more than Id like to admit.( Also: IFTTT initiations to automate activities and sync between apps and accounts draw life behavior easier .)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2. “
4. Keep a calendar, and planned in the time it takes for “youve got to” do events .
If it takes you additional time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre projecting your daytime too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage .
Do you get sleepy claim after lunch? Then perhaps dont dive into that intense assignment at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done subsequently? Then do that. Anatomy out what works for you, and follow that planned .
6. Find your tempo and stick with it .
Even if youre not the slow and steady category, a regular blueprint of sprint and remain can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting trounces in my manager to create a lilt, ” says Tv columnist/ director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever rationale, it helps me think through occasions in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/ YouTube.
7. Stir a schedule. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another .
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do index on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger activities get their own rolls where they get broken down into smaller and smaller factors. The rolls also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over attainment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Weighing your progress in a tangible road can assist you seem more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small-time .
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine lift, then they are able to fake it by lodging a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English teach, provides an example: I can speak that breathtaking online fanfic IF I get three articles graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring characters into a game .
I use a fitness watch which checks how many steps I take in a daylight and how many flights of stairs I clamber. Its fun to prepare the numbers go up , says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning scribe. She also reports her daily term count on Twitter, so that people are able to cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring material. Just get it done. It’s faster that room .
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the assignment, instead of on the time itll go for get onto done which, tells be honest, is perhaps less era than you think.( Of direction, although there are I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done .)
12. The more you give occasions pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them . Find a route to keep it fresh . Im a addictive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red-faced notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I differentiate all my emails as “read, ” then use an IFTTT trigger to prompt me later of things that is really require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If occasions decline your knowledge, visual clues can help .
You are well aware that mantra, “Out of view, out of mind? ” For parties with ADHD, that’s reasonably literal to a fault. So it makes it possible to stick events right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them . When I was in college, I videotapeed a postcard to my accommodation door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning castes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain , not against it . Do you tend to lose your keys in the shower? Then make a new residence for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your impulses. Use their impetu to your advantage . And on that note
15. Embrace your peculiarities and find a way to draw them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A mint of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having person tell us whats the right way to do stuffs. For illustration: If someone else leaves me a directory of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their thought, it exclusively reaches me disappointed and confused. I have to create my own to-do inventories in my own method even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a end. Move around. Do a bit dance . Movement helps your intelligence get better. As alluring as it is to made the emphasis on discernible actions, its just as important to not do occasions and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little interval can give you a lot of new view .
I use a portable movable stand table and a duet of bluetooth headphones so that I can mostly dance in place and write at the same duration. My partner reputes I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a era . Its important to abide when youve reached the object of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a respite, and come back to it fresh the next day . This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you ability through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/ YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and be transmitted to others .
“My peers are well aware that in exchange for abiding all the things I do that reach me little dependable, they get a guy who are in a position think outside the box, that can create on the operate, that can wear numerous hats at once, ” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately following chat rather than on email. Give your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Retain your seeing on the reward, but f orgive yourself and others . Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy hitting yourself up .( Youre not going to help anybody else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either .)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but remain flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, “re coming” with a new programme, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which fetches me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson TAGEND
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for the purposes of an good productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inescapable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a mentality. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and continue feeling things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business seek, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or plainly recollecting to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable clue, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
The post What 8 successful ADHDers crave you to know about how they get stuff done. appeared first on apsbicepstraining.com.
from WordPress http://ift.tt/2G3E5SV via IFTTT
0 notes
yua-shizuka · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
otaku-douchebag-ponytail · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
lavendermiilk · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
txny-archxr · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
nepaca · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
saintofsunflowers · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
danda202 · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
professorsudowoodo · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
n1nj4-l0v4 · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
the-yaoi-galla · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/
0 notes
leannamandy1 · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/ from https://makingthebest8.tumblr.com/post/159631584231
0 notes
keilapauline · 8 years ago
Text
What 8 successful ADHDers want you to know about how they get stuff done.
Whenever I’m working with my family, friends, or colleagues, they always ask me how I’m able to get so much done.
My answer: “I have ADHD.”
That might sound confusing, but realistically, people with ADHD don’t always have problems with attention at least, not when we’re working on something that excites us. In fact, ADHD often means that we can hyperfocus on awesome things for hours on end, although sometimes that comes at the expense of all the less-thrilling things were supposed to be doing. (Why wash the dishes when you can build a rocket ship out of a cardboard box and a disassembled vacuum cleaner?)
Most people with ADHD have to work 10 times harder to achieve seemingly basic organizational and time management skills skills that other people develop naturally over time. While medication can certainly help, it doesn’t do all the work by itself. As a result, we pay more conscious attention to life hacks, memory tricks, productivity shortcuts and other mental managerial systems … because we have to.
GIF via Checkoofilm/YouTube.
Some say that people with ADHD are much more likely to start their own businesses, perhaps because were built to tackle creative and entrepreneurial challenges.
While other people dont need to learn the same tricks that we do, they can benefit from them. In fact, Id argue that ADHDers have some of the best advice and practices for getting stuff done even if we dont always listen to that advice ourselves.
GIF from “Bruce Almighty.”
Here are 21 productivity tips from people with ADHD that even non-ADHDers can learn from:
1. Habits are things you get for free. So get into ’em.
Even though Im not a natural creature of habit, I always start my day with meds, then a shower, then pants, then breakfast otherwise I know that Im going to forget one of those steps. Habits are essentially self-automation, which means less brainpower spent on the little things.
2. Always have a backup (or two, or three) and know where to find it.
I keep extra cables, chargers, adapters, medicine, and other things in my bag at all times. That way, whether Im going to the grocery store or on vacation, I dont have to worry about keeping my phone charged.
3. Reminders and alerts: love them and use them.
I even have a recurring 2 p.m. notification on my phone that says EAT SOME LUNCH, YOU IDIOT because, erm, I need the reminder more than Id like to admit. (Also: IFTTT triggers to automate actions and sync between apps and accounts make life way easier.)
GIF from “Despicable Me 2.”
4. Keep a calendar, and schedule in the time it takes for you to do things.
If it takes you extra time to keep a calendar or get into the headspace for a meeting? Factor that in when youre planning your day too.
5. Pay attention to the your day’s ups and downs, and use them to your advantage.
Do you get sleepy right after lunch? Then maybe dont dive into that intense project at 1 p.m. Are you better when you answer emails in the morning and get active tasks done later? Then do that. Figure out what works for you, and follow that schedule.
6. Find your rhythm and stick with it.
Even if youre not the slow and steady type, a regular pattern of sprint and rest can still help you reach the finish line. “Sometimes I’ll start counting beats in my head to create a rhythm,” says TV writer/director Hadley Klein. “It sounds crazy but for whatever reason, it helps me think through things in a different way.”
GIF via HIKAKIN/YouTube.
7. Make a list. Check it twice. Then make another list. And another.
Graphic novelist Tyler Page says, I keep one main to-do list on my computer in a Sticky or TextEdit file. Bigger projects get their own lists where they get broken down into smaller and smaller components. The lists also help with prioritizing something that needs to be done right away goes on the daily to-do list.”
GIF from “Monsters University.”
8. Prioritize action over accomplishment. Doing the thing.
This one comes from Patty Carnevale, head of revenue at Man Repeller. Measuring your progress in a tangible way can help you feel even more successful, which will then give you the drive to keep going.
9. Reward yourself for your accomplishments no matter how small.
If you’re someone who needs frequent feedback to get the necessary dopamine boost, then you can fake it by sticking a carrot in front of yourself to keep you going. Alysa Auriemma, an English instructor, gives an example: I can read that awesome online fanfic IF I get three papers graded!
GIF from “Parks and Recreation.”
10. Turn the boring parts into a game.
I use a fitness watch which monitors how many steps I take in a day and how many flights of stairs I climb. Its fun to make the numbers go up, says Nalo Hopkinson, an award-winning author. She also reports her daily word count on Twitter, so that people can cheerlead her along.
11. Don’t dread the boring stuff. Just get it done. It’s faster that way.
Focus on the satisfaction that youre going to feel once youve finished the task, instead of on the time itll take to get it done which, lets be honest, is probably less time than you think. (Of course, even though I know this works for me, it’s still easier said than done.)
12. The more you let things pile up, the easier it gets to ignore them.
Find a way to keep it fresh. Im a compulsive inbox zeroer because the longer that little red notification bubble sits there on my phone, the more inclined I am to ignore it. So I mark all my emails as “read,” then use an IFTTT trigger to remind me later of things that actually require a follow-up or my attention.
GIF from “Community.”
13. If things slip your mind, visual cues can help.
You know that mantra, “Out of sight, out of mind?” For people with ADHD, that’s pretty literal to a fault. So it helps to stick things right in our own faces so that we can’t miss them. When I was in college, I taped a postcard to my apartment door with the times I needed to leave by to make it to morning classes on time, says Rebecca Eisenberg, Upworthys senior editor.
14. Work with your brain, not against it.
Do you tend to lose your keys in the bathroom? Then make a new home for them in the bathroom, where youre already inclined to leave them. That way, theyre always there. Don’t fight your instincts. Use their momentum to your advantage. And on that note
15. Embrace your idiosyncrasies and find a way to make them work for you.
Everyones brain is different. A lot of ADHDers need to figure out on our own what works for us, rather than having someone tell us whats the right way to do things. For example: If someone else leaves me a list of instructions or things to do that’s organized by their mind, it only makes me frustrated and confused. I have to create my own to-do lists in my own way even if it does take more time.
GIF from “Adventure Time.”
16. Take a break. Move around. Do a little dance.
Movement helps your brain work better. As tempting as it is to put the emphasis on measurable actions, its just as important to not do things and give yourself a chance to breathe. Sometimes a little distance can give you a lot of new perspective.
I use a portable adjustable standing desk and a pair of bluetooth headphones so that I can basically dance in place and write at the same time. My wife thinks I’m weird, but it works.
17. Know when to call it a day.
Its important to accept when youve reached the point of diminishing returns. Don’t be afraid to give your brain a rest, and come back to it fresh the next day. This’ll save you time in the long run too because the more you power through your exhaustion, the longer it’ll take to recover.
GIF via ilvbunnies/YouTube.
18. Identity your flaws and strengths, and communicate them to others.
“My colleagues know that in exchange for tolerating all the things I do that make me less reliable, they get a guy who can think outside the box, that can create on the fly, that can wear many hats at once,” says Upworthy’s fearless editor-at-large, Adam Mordecai.
“They also know that if they want something from me, I’m far likelier to get it done if they ping me immediately on chat rather than on email. Let your peeps know how to get the most out of you.”
19. Keep your eye on the prize, but forgive yourself and others.
Everyones fighting their own uphill battles, and you’re not going to get anything done if you’re too busy beating yourself up. (Youre not going to help anyone else be more productive if you externalize it and pick on them either.)
GIF from the SAG Awards.
20. Set your goals, but stay flexible.
Maybe you didnt get as much done today as you had hoped, but thats OK. Regroup, come up with a new strategy, and try to figure out what went wrong so you can do it better next time. Which brings me to the last, and perhaps most important, lesson:
21. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
This is actually a quote from Samuel Beckett, but it also makes for an excellent productivity mantra. The bad parts and failures are inevitable, and youll never overcome them all. But thats OK. Accept it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.
But you do have a brain. So use it. GIF from “The Wizard of Oz.”
ADHDers understand one thing better than most people: Success is not a stationary target.
There’s no “one weird trick” that will actually bring you any closer to success.
Instead, the best we can hope for is to embrace ourselves for all our strengths and weaknesses, and keep finding things to work toward. Perhaps that’s a new business endeavor, 15 simultaneous hobbies, or simply remembering to put your underwear on before your pants.
If that last part is a measurable indication, then for me, today was an extraordinary success.
Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done
from https://www.makingthebest.com/2017/04/16/what-8-successful-adhders-want-you-to-know-about-how-they-get-stuff-done/ from https://makingthebest1.tumblr.com/post/159631720767
0 notes